The Ottawa free trader., 1887-10-15
Hints ON DisIn feCtAnts.

| This, of all others, is the season Of the
year, when general cleanliness, ventilation
and the judicious use of aDtiseptics, Ol
disinfectants commend themselves 70 all
who would prevent the spread OF infectious
or contagious poisons, by the adoption OF
proper precautions.
| A large number, perhaps the majority OF
people, continue TO misapply or 10 imper
fectly understand the word disinfectant
Thus there Is prevailing impression tina,
the fumes Of burnt vinegar or Of certain
aromatic resins, gums, woods, or essential
oils, are efficient agents, whereas the dis
coveries of modern science have shown
them all to be perfectly worthless, inas-
much as they exercise no chemical action
on their surroundings, and serve merely to
cover noxious emanations, by their own
more powerful aromas.
Chemically speaking, true disinfectant
must have high oxidizing power or at least
be capable of imparting to vitiated atmos-
phere the elements required to restore TO 1t
the natural equilibrium Of Its component
parts. Thus, for example, the heated
vspor of nitric acid is a very powerful
oxidizer, SO strong, In tact, as to rapidly
oxidiZe, charcoal, phosphorus, or Iodine, or
destroy most organic matter by setting II
on fire. Sulphuric acid, or oil of vitriol,
acts as dehydrator, and renders great SER
vice In that capacity by decomposing or.
ganic substances rich In the element of
water. Many metallic salts occupy impor
taDt position as antiseptiCs and disinfect
ants; and hydrochlorides are similar in
their action 10 chlorine. If bleaching
powder be treated with free acid of any
kind II throws of Its chlorine gas, which
then becomes at liberty to destroy germs
and other attendants upon putrefactiOn. A
solution of bleaching powder acts as a per.
feet decolorizer and deodorizer. The read.
iness with which oxygen is evolved from
compounds containing the oxides Of chic,
rine is easily shown by treating chlorate of
potassium with sulphuric acid under water,
and dropping into the liquid a small piece
of phosphorus, which will Immediately
burst into flame and burn with brilliant
light Permanganate of potassium is an.
other salt very rich in oxygen, and its solu.
ton in water has become widely knows
under the name of Codeys fluid.
Chloride of iron Is an active dislnfectant,
and like chlorine and Its compound. acts as
an Indirect oXidiZer while undergoing re-
duction to the lower chloride. ChlOrides
of zinc and mercury are both very corrosive
poisons and powerful germicides; they
have the power of coagulating albumen,
and should be used In higher state of d.
luton, and with extreme caution.
Arsenious acid and boracic acid may
both be used as preservatives, the latter be-
Ing especially efficient and we'll worthy of
more general application. Sulphate of
iron is an invaluable disinfectant, Its action
being that of an absorbent of oxygen.
Carbolic acid is also very extensively used
and approved. A very safe and at the
same time effectual compound for domes-
tic purposes (purification of drains, etc.
may be prepared either by dissolving two
pounds of green vitrol (sulphate of from
or mixing about a quarter Of a pound of
carbolic acid In gallon Of water. All
new disinfectants, relying upon advertise.
ments for their sale, and OF which the com.
position Is held to be secret, should be
carefully avoided, as, the more "fearfully
and wonderfully" they are made, the less
they are likely to be other than costly
and Minin0 Journal.